Sheet feeding mechanism



Nov. 22, 1932.

SHEEN] FEEDING HECHANISI Filed A ril 10. 1930 {iSheets-Sheet "i mvznroa Awv.

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SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 10. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Nov. 22, 1932.

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w. ECKHARD Filed April 10, 1930 SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Nav. 22, 1932 |l||| lll ma Patented Nov. 22,1932

UNITED 'srA'rEs PATEN OFFICE- wrmmux, ncmnb, or DUNELLEN, 'NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro anon & 00., me,

' or mw YORK, 1:. Y., A conrorwrionor NEW YORK SHEET FEEDiNG MECHANISM Application filed April .10,-

' The present invention'relates to sheet feeding mechanismfor machines that print on sheets of tinned iron, commercially known as tin, and on paste board and other rela- 5 tively heavy materials that can be moved forward by means of a pushing device that engages the rear edge of the sheet.

The feeding mechanism disclosed herein differs from those heretofore used in that [O the reciprocating parts that operate the pushing device are relatively small and light in weight, they are driven by a chain that runs at a constant speed, and can be operated at higher speeds than the feeding devices of [5 this class that were heretofore used, and still obtain accurate register when printing in a plurality of colors.

As shown and described herein,the mechanism is adapted particularly for use with a machine for printing on tin, but it will be understood that the device mayalso be applied to machines for operating on other materials and such use is considered to be within the scope of the claims.

An object ofhe invention is to provide a sheet feeding device for printing machines operating on tin and similar materials that can be operated at a high rate of speed.

Another-object of the invention is to pro- :9 vide a sheet feeding mechanism for the service mentioned that will maintain accurate register of the printing.

. It is also an object ofthe invention to provide a sheet feeding mechanism of gen- 33 erally improvedconstruction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use. With the vforegoing and other objects in 40 view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combinationand arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of ings, wherein form cylinder and an impression cylinder are 1930. Serial m. 44s,1as.'.

the invention herein disclosed may be made within'the scope of whatis claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment'of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw-- Figure 1 is a-vertical sectional longitudinal view showing one end of the sheet feeding mechanism that is the subject of the present invention;

' Fi ure 2 is a continuation of Figure 1- showmg the other end of the feeding mechanism;

Figure 3 is a vertical endwise view showing a ortion of the feeding mechanism as seen in the direction of the arrow 3 on Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the 'feedin mechanism drawn'to a smaller scale than igures 1 and 2 and as viewed in the direction of arrow 4 of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 shows a view of the pusher arm and associated parts; and

Figure 6 is a dia rammaticview showin a portion of the fee ing mechanism, with tie pushermechanism, indicated in two of its positions.

Referring to the drawings, fragments of a shown, the form cylinder being indicated 11 and the impression cylinder 12. The feeding mechanism is supported on a frame of the usual type having sidebars, one of which is shown and indicated at 13, these bars being connected at opposite ends with suitable members on the machine frame. I

It will be understood that the mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4 is preferably (in 1i-. cated on the opposite side of the machine t us providing two pusher mechanisms that work in unison. As they are identical except that the relative position of the parts arereversed to make them right'andleft respectively, a description of one will'suflice for both.

A cross brace of the machine is indicated at 14. The side bars 13 rotatably support cross shafts 15, 16, 17 and 18 which have sultable bearings provided in the side frames.

Shafts and 18 are screw threaded on the portion shown in Figures 3 and 4, with a right hand thread and the portion of the shaft that is not shown, is threaded with a left hand thread- These shafts have sprockets 19 and 21 secured to them and are connected by a chain 22. A crank 23 is fitted to shaft 18 and may be employed to turn the shafts 15 and 18 simultaneously. I

The pusher frame comprises the sub-frame members 24 and 25 that are connected by suitable cross members 26 and 26'.

and 32 on which gears are rotatably supported. Any suitable means may be used to rotate the shaft 17 to which the gear 33 is attached. This drives a gear 34 on the shaft 16 and gear 35 also secured to shaft 16 meshes with gear 36 that rotates on the stud 29. The

' gear 36 meshes with idler gear 37 supported on the stud 32 and this in turn meshes with gear 38 that is secured to propeller roller 39 and rotates with it on the stud 31. The gear 36 meshes with the idler 41 which in turn mesheswith gear 42 that is secured to and rotates with thepropeller roller 43. A

sprocket 44 is secured to the gear 36 and a sprocket 45 is rotatably supported on the stud 46 that is normally secured to the sub-frame member 25, but adjustable with relation rie's a shoe 54 that is secured to it thereto by an adjusting screw 47. A chain 48 connects the sprockets 44 and 45. The subframe members 24 and 25 are supported on a threaded shaft 18, the frame member 25 being providedwith a screw threaded bushing 49 which engages the thread on the shaft 18. Similarly, the threaded bushing 51 enga es the shaft 15 and it will be understood that y turning the crank 23, the pusher frame may be moved as a unit relative to the side frame 13 to accommodate wide or narrow sheets of the material that is being operated upon.

A track 52 is supported by being secured to the cross frame'26 at one end, and at the -other end to a stud 50 secured to the frame 25, and the pusher carriage 53 slides forward and back thereon. The pusher carria e carscrews 55, and a bracket 56 is secured to the shoe by the bolt 57 that passes through an elongated opening 58 in the bracket, thus permittingthe bracket to be adjusted relative to P justing the pusher to suit the size of the Sheet I The sub-.

frame member 25 carries studs 27, 28, 29, 31

y the' This arran ement for adjusting the allysupports the pusher arm guiding lever 62 which is provided with a stud 63 forming a pivotal connection for the pusher arm 64, to the extremity of which, the pusher plate 65 is secured. The-pusherbracket is formed with a lug 66, and arod 67 pivotally connected to the arm 64 passes through the lug and carries the spring68 that is held on the rod by the washer 69 and the pin 71. The rod'67' is formed with an enlarged head at 72 that abuts against the lug 66. The spring thus acts to hold the pusher arm in the position shown in Figure The pusher bracket 56 carries a 'stud 73 that rotatably support-sa roller 74 andthe pusher carriage as shown herein is formed with a vertical channel or guide 75 in which a block 76 is fitted to slide. Thisblock is secured to one of the pivot pins in the chain 48 and it will be understood that when the chain is driven by the s rocket 44 that the engagement of the block 6 with the pusher carriage will result in driving the pusher forward and back along the track 52. 7

A pusher guide which may have the form of a channel is indicated at 77 and is secured to a bracket 78-that is pivoted on a stud 79 secured to the track 52. A supportin rod 80 is pivotally connected to the guide 7 and slides in a hole in'the cross member 26'. A spring 80 is placed on the rod and carries the weight of the ide 77. The ide 77 is pivotally connecte to one end of't e link 81, a

which has its opposite end pivoted on one extremity of the bell crank guide operating lever 82', that is pivoted on the stud 83 secured ,to the frame member 24. The opposite end of the lever 82 rotatably supports a roller 84 that isadapted tof engage with the guide operating cam 85 secured to the shaft 17. It willbe understood that rotation of the shaft- 17 will result in lowering one end of the guide 77 and alternately permitting it. to be raised by the spring 80. The roller '74 follows the channel in the guide 77 and raising and lowering the guide consequently results .in imparting a corresponding motion to the pusher arm 64. The arrangement of the parts. is such that as the pusher arm moves from right .to left, referring to Figure 6, the usher is carried in the position shown in ull lines, and as the arm is moved backward from left to right, the pusher arm assumes the position shown in dotted'lines.

Sheet guides 86 are'secured to the frame member 14 and similar guides 87 extend backward therefrom forming a feed table, and preliminary side guides 88 are provided for glving an initial side register to'the sheets.

cylinder. The guides 77 will then be depressed and the pusher will return on a plane eneath the guides 87-, allowing the succeeding sheet to pass over it when the operation will be repeated. The chain that is employed to drive the pusher mechanism supplies a continuous drlve at the correct feeding speed and reverses the travel .of the pusher while the driving block is turning about the sprockets, the reversal being-accomplished without jar or objectionable vibration. It

has been found in consequence, that a feeding device in which this mechanism is used will produce accurate register in printing when operating at much higher speeds than the mechanism heretofore used.

What I claim is:

1. In a sheet feeder, a reciprocating pusher, mechanism to raise and lower the pusher, a track on which the pusher travels, and means to move the pusher forward and backward on the track; said means including a chain supported on sprockets and operatably connected to the pusher.

2. In a sheet feeder, a reciprocating pusher carriage, a track on which the carriage travels, an endless flexible operating member whereby the carriage is moved along the track, a pusher connected to the carriage, a guide adapted to govern the operation of the pusher, and means for raising and lowering the guide to raise and lower the pusher.

8. In a sheet feeder, a reciprocating pusher carriage, a track, means to move the carria e forward and backward on the track inc uding an endless chain operatably con-' a block secured to the chain and engaging the,

nected to the carriage, a pusher connected to the carriage, a guide adapted to govern the operation of the pusher, and means for rais-- ing the guide during motion of-the pusher in one direction and for lowering it during motion in the opposite direction.

4. In a sheet feeder, a reciprocating pusher, a track on which the pusher travels, and 7,

means to move the pusher along the track; said means including a pusher carriage having a substantially vertically disposed channel on the carriage, a chain supported on sprockets and driven by suitable means, and

channel.

5. In a sheet feeder, a reciprocating pusher carriage movable on a track, a pusher stantially' parallel to the track and adapted to govern the operation of the pusher, means to move the guide out of parallelism with the track to change the path of the pusher, and an endless flexible driving member operatably connected to the pusher.

7. In a sheet feeder, a track, a pusher carriage adapted to travel forward and backward on the track, a guide member associated with said carriage, a driving connection engaging said guide member and slidable substantially perpendicularly with respect to the track, and an endless flexible driving member to which the driving connection is pivotally secured.

8. In a sheet feeder, sheet guides, a reciprocating pusher carriage, a track beneath the level of thesheet guides on which the carriage slides, a pusher connected to the carriage and adapted toengage a sheet on the guides, and an endless flexible driving member connected to the pusher.

9. In a sheet feeder, sheet guides, a reciprocating pusher, a track beneath the level 'of the guides adapted to so guide the pusher that it engages the sheet, means to move the pusher forward and backward on the track, said means including a chain supported on sprockets and operatably connected to the pusher.

10. Ina sheet feeder, sheet guides, areciprocating pusher'mechanism, a device to raise and lower the pusher, a track beneath a track beneath the level of the sheet guides onwhich the pusher carriage travels, a substantialy vertically disposed channel on the carriage, andmeans to move the carriage on the track including an endless flexible driving member carrying a block engaging the channel.

12. In a sheet feeder, sheet guides, a reciprocating pusher carriage, a track below the level of the sheet guides on which the carriage travels, a pusher connected to the carriage and adaptedto engage the sheet,

a guide adapted to govern the operation of the pusher, means for raising and lowerin the guide to ralse and lower the pusher, an

30 pusher adjustably supported on the carriage an. endless flexible driving member operatively connected to the, pusher carriage.

13. In a sheet feeder, sheet guides, atrackbelow the level of the guides, a pusher mechanism adapted to travel forward and backward on the track, a guide member arrangedsubstantially parallel to the track and adapted to govern the operation of the pusher mechanism, means, to move the guide out of parallelism with the track to change the path of the pusher, and an endless flexible driving member-operatively connected to the. pusher.

'14. In a sheet feeder, a track, a recipro eatingpusher carriageadapted to travel on by the carriage is moved' forward and back- I ward along the track.

20. In a sheet feeder, a reciprocatlng pusher, a track to guide the pusher, an endless flexible member having a driving connection and adapted to move the usher along the track; said pusher being a Justable relative to the driving connection.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM K. ECKHARD.

the track, a pusher bracket adjustable on the carriage, a pusher arm *on the bracket andthe carriage is moved along the track.

15. In a sheet feeder, a track, a reciprocat ing carriage on the track, a pusher adjustably connected to the carriage, a guide adapted to govern the operation of the pusher,

means for raising and lowering the guide to raise and lower the pusher, and an endless flexible driving member whereby the pusher carriage is moved forward and backward on the track.

16. In a sheet feeder, sheet guides, a re- ,an endless flexible driving member whereby ciprocatingcarriage movable on a track, a

and adapted to engage-a sheet on the sheet guides, a movable pusher guide adapted to govern the operation of the pusher and movable to one position to raise the pusher andv to another position to lower it, and an endless flexible driving member operatively connected to the pusher. a

17. In a sheet feeder, sheet guides, a reciprocating carriage movable on a track, a pusher adjustably supported on the carriage and adapted to engage a sheet on the sheet guides, an endless=flexible driving member operatably connected to the pusher, a movable pusherguide adapted to govern the operation of the pusher. and movable to one position to raise the pusher and to an- 1 other position to lower it, and means to move the pusher guide in timed relation to the movement of the carriage.

18. In a sheet feeder, a reciprocating pusher device, a track for the pusher device, an endless flexible member adapted to move the pusher device forward and backward along the track, and means for moving the pusher device vertically'in one direction to engage a sheet and in the opposite direction i to 

